Flights of Fantasy discussion

Our inaugural horror book is Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon!

Please remember to mark any spoilers by using the spoiler tag -- type < spoiler> your spoiler here < /spoiler>, without the spaces. Posts containing unmarked spoilers may be deleted.

Discussion begins on Jan 1st so we'll unlock this thread closer to the time; for now, this is just a heads up so any of you who need to get a copy can do so. :)

This thread is now open for discussion!

I have been meaning to read McCammon, but haven't gotten to him until now. I'm really excited about this one!

Me too, Kathy.

Kathy wrote: "I have been meaning to read McCammon, but haven't gotten to him until now. I'm really excited about this one!"

I've read one of his before this, Mystery Walk, which was OK. I also have Speaks The Nightbird on audio that I will get to at some point in my life (one hopes), but I'm looking forward to Swan Song, since so many people compare it to The Stand.

I can't count how many people that have been shocked to hear that I haven't read him. It's like "you love horror, but haven't read McCammon?!"

I haven't read The Stand yet so I can't compare. One of my friends stated in her review that if you're expecting The Stand you'll be disappointed.

I'm looking forward to this one.

Jackie wrote: "I haven't read The Stand yet so I can't compare. One of my friends stated in her review that if you're expecting The Stand you'll be disappointed.

I'm looking forward to this one."

I'm sure that's true. McCammon is very different from King. I can tell that just by the one book that I've read of his.

I think the comparison is more regarding 1) the size and 2) the fact that it's a post-apocalyptic horror story.

I'm looking forward to it too. :)

AND OMG READ THE STAND!!

Ha! I know. I know. I'm really working on adding more King to my read list this year.

I'll probably attempt this one last of the 4 January reads.

I finished Steelheart, and I'm halfway through the Narnia. If I knock out The Book quickly, I'll feel really good about having 3/4 done. That'll give me confidence to start this door stopper. Hehe

Jackie wrote: "Ha! I know. I know. I'm really working on adding more King to my read list this year."

Jackie, I definitely plan on reading King's Desperation, Regulators, and Hearts in Atlantis this year. Have you read any of them? Maybe we can do a buddy read?

Kathy, I'm going to reply to you in the King thread so that this thread stays on topic. :)

Jackie wrote: "Kathy, I'm going to reply to you in the King thread so that this thread stays on topic. :)"

Oops, gotcha. Thanks. :)

Started...

I'm looking forward to seeing what you think. :)

Starting this one now. :)

Still reading.

What do you think so far?

Umm I can see why it's compared to The Stand.

I see...

Chris wrote: "Umm I can see why it's compared to The Stand."

Good or bad?

LOL He's being vague, so probably bad.

I am liking this book. In particular, I like how it switches focus from one character/situation to another every chapter. Almost like watching an episode of "Lost". It is thrilling not to know which characters are going to make it and makes you want to keep reading. The only thing that has slightly annoyed me is the author refers to "blisters" a little too much although I am sure that is for effect. Kind of gross though. Overall though, the writing style is excellent.

Interesting... I've never watched Lost, so I'm not sure how the book compares, but I'm thinking of GRRM's format now. I'm still in the first chapter, so I haven't seen any switch in POV yet.

Or POV shifts in The Stand.

It's not bad. It's. I dunno. Long.

Yeah, but The Stand seems... kind of fluid in the changes. I don't recall it being a "new chapter/new character or POV" thing. I want to re-read it this year, because I could be forgetting how it is set up.

Swan Song started out with a bunch of "headers" for chapter one, which is what made me think of GRRM. He usually tells you which POV you're getting in that section too.

"No invader has ever, or will ever set foot on American earth."

How quickly we forget that we were once the invader here.

But we weren't America yet.


It was still India.

OK, so I guess it's the parts that have the headers, not the chapters. I think that's better, honestly. It seems smoother.

So far, I'm liking this, but I'm only 3% in, so it's a little early to tell. ;)

I enjoyed the book, but I must admit, I did skim some sections. It could have been pared down a bit. I love big tomes if the writing has pertinent story, but description for description's sake seems self indulgent.

5%: (view spoiler)[I don't like the Croningers already. What kind of stupid ass parents allow their KID to PLAY with a gun, including aiming at their heads and pulling the trigger?

This kid already seems like a sociopath obsessed with death. Oh boy. (hide spoiler)]

A little past halfway. I'm liking it more now....

Started this today. So far, so good. I'm really interested in reading more of it.

I started this a day or two ago, but I've had so little reading time that I'm only 6% (approx. 5 chapters) in. I've literally been reading one chapter at a time. So, I plan to start over tomorrow to see if I can actually get into the book.

I've also come to realize, after seeing all of the comparisons to The Stand, that I really don't remember The Stand... Then again, it has been about 25 years since I read it.

I'm really not enjoying this book. The fact that it's longer than a US trade agreement isn't endearing it to me either. So far the only interesting character is (view spoiler)[the guy shoving popcorn into a mouth on his forehead (hide spoiler)]. As for the rest of the characters, die...don't die...don't care.

Tracy wrote: "I'm really not enjoying this book. The fact that it's longer than a US trade agreement isn't endearing it to me either. So far the only interesting character is [spoilers removed]. As for the rest ..."

Just curious, how far along are you in the book?

LOL Tracy. When I got to that bit, I was working and listening to the audio, and I was like "HOLD UP. WHAT did he just say?? O_O"

But I agree... he's definitely... interesting.

I'm liking Josh too, though I have always had a thing for big loveable bearlike guys, so that's kind of to be expected. The way the reader does his voice doesn't hurt either. It's perfect to me.

Swan... likes gardens.

Dawn wrote: "Just curious, how far along are you in the book?"

Chapter 11; Location 1688; 11%

Oh wow, that's about where I am. I thought you'd be a lot closer to done with a 1 star rating already! I had just read the section your comment about popcorn man was from, so I wondered if nothing good happened after that point, lol.

That's just about where I am too.

12%ish... (view spoiler)[You know, I was starting to get mad about the sheer stupidity of the President causing this destruction... but then I kind of feel bad for him. I feel like the Man Who Likes Movies (MWLM) led to him this decision in a kind of roundabout way... Not that I think that excuses anything. But I do feel like he was at least respectable because he realized and took responsibility, even if it was pointless and too little too late. At least he didn't justify or pass blame. I have to have a little respect for that. Very little, but all the same it's something. (hide spoiler)]

Becky, (view spoiler)[I pretty much agree. I also think he was pressured into it. It seemed like everyone else in the room was all for doing it, and he was the only one resisting. I assumed the MWLM had all of them under his thumb. (hide spoiler)]

I'm on chapter 16 now (16%). Liking it quite a bit so far. Might be because I'm just coming off of reading The Book which wasn't so great.. But it's got me wanting to pick it up and stay up later than I should reading it. That's always a good sign!

64%

Can't say anything and nobody will come back and check the spoilers when they catch up.

So yeah. It's cool. I'm getting a bit of that feeling I should be on something else by now, but it's compelling enough to keep me from starting something.

Sometimes I do!

I do, if the thread isn't 17 pages long by then.

Right. Exactly.

And if it's easy to see which spoilers I can look at - like how we've been doing with the percentage.

Yeah, that's true.

I really don't have much to say, at any point. Other than "it's cool".

Book Reviews by Beavis & Butthead.

Heh heh. Heh. Huh.

26%: (view spoiler)[I'm renaming "Roland" something else. He doesn't deserve that name. I think I'm going to rename him Rotten. (hide spoiler)]